theater-in-the-round

noun

the·​ater-in-the-round ˈthē-ə-tər-in-ṯẖə-ˈrau̇nd 

plural theaters-in-the-round

1

: a theater in which the stage is located in the center of the auditorium

called also arena theater

2

: the style or method of staging plays in a theater-in-the-round

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 1